Increasing Water Utilization Efficiency of a Pasture Grass by Increasing Aftermath through Plant Selection.

摘要

Maximum land utilization requires that maximum production be obtained throughout the growing season. Perennial crops such as forage grasses have the potential for production during an entire grazing season. Cool season grasses now grown in the upper Great Plains area produce little forage during warm summer months even though favorable moisture and fertility conditions prevail. The reason is that these grasses have been selected naturally for summer dormancy since moisture is normally lacking under dry-land conditions. This project sought a grass which would give the greatest amount of aftermath under favorable moisture conditions. The selection of a variety of smooth bromegrass,SD 5,has been achieved which is superior in regrowth and,therefore,in water utilization efficiency,to the variety Lincoln,now recommended in South Dakota.